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Obama: I won't question my opponent's patriotism

President Obama said Tuesday that he was not prepared to question the patriotism or love of country of any of his political rivals — but that the 2012 contest was a contrast in visions of government.

"I’m a firm believer that whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican, that you’re a patriot, you care about this country, you love this country," Obama said at an intimate fundraiser in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. "And so I’m not somebody who, when we’re in a political contest, suggests somehow that one side or the other has a monopoly on love of country."

"But there are contrasting visions here. And this election will probably have the biggest contrast that we’ve seen maybe since the Johnson-Goldwater election -- maybe before that," Obama said.

"Because my vision, Bill Nelson’s vision, the Democratic vision is one that says that free market is the key to economic growth; that we don’t need to build government just for the sake of expanding its reach; but there are certain things we have to do -- whether it’s investments in education, or basic science and research, or caring for the most vulnerable among us and creating an effective safety net -- that we have to do, because we can’t do it on our own," Obama told supporters.